Advanced Emergency Leak Arresting Technology

Midé is proposing to develop a reinforced rubber with unique sealing properties to combat leak situations on US Navy ships. The proposed innovation is to develop a unique pipe sealing rubber with a reinforced surface to carry the hoop-stresses and cross-sectional lip seal geometry to ensure that high pressure leaks are contained. The proposed long shelf-life, fire resistant reinforced leak arresting material with its unique pocket geometry will simplify and expedite the pipe patching and will be capable of quickly stopping leaks in pipes ranging from ½” – 12” in diameter with jagged surfaces, tees, elbows and valves without any pre-treatment. In Phase I Midé will develop a test bed with which pipe leaks can be simulated and on which prototypes of the invention can be tested and feasibility demonstrated. Models will be used to optimize seal material geometries. Where Phase I will focus on modular designs, the Option will fabricate and test a more robust vulcanized prototype. Phase II will continue the Phase I effort through optimization of the Phase I design(s), testing under more realistic shipboard conditions and with all types of fluids. The Phase II Option will be testing of the repair material onboard a DDG-51 class ship.